Switch mechanism



C. A. GOOD SWITCH MECHANISM Oct. 3, 1933.

Filed Dec. 29, 1930 s2 30 INVENTOR. Char/65A A TTORNEY I Patented 3, 1 933 i swrron MECHANISM Charles A. Good, Oakland, Calif.

Application December 29, 1930 Serial No. 505,330

, 6 Claims.

invention relates to switch mechanisms of the type combining cartridge fuses therewith and arranged to be mounted on a wall or control panel for controlling the line current to and the 1 j operation' of commercial types of electric motors djaf1alogous electrically powered machines, 7 such fs'witch mechanisms being commonly known r line and motor switches.

object of the invention is to provide a 1-h" switch mechanismof the character described "tvh'ich will be smaller, more compact, reliable and "safe in. operation and easier to install and operate than similar mechanisms heretofore employed, owing to a particularly efficacious man- '15, ner of combining the switch and fuse units and a novel construction and mode of operation of such units.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch and fuse unit of the character described in'which an improved switch constructionis advantageously embodied therein to provide for a better contact of the switch contact members with a positive prevention of arcing, a

secu'reholding of said contact members against accidental disengagement, a complete switch operationwith a comparatively short and easy movement of an operating member, and a full shielding and housing of all current carrying DartsJ A further object is to provide a switch mechanism-of the character described in which the fuse and switch units are ,in superimposed or one in front of the other relation with the fuse unit carried by themoVabIe contact carrying block in such manner as to effect a saving in space and material and provide a more compact mechanism as a whole, as well as other advantagesv hereinbefore noted.

Still another object is to provide a switch 40 'mechanism of the character described in which I the switch contact members are positively urged into and out of an effective wiping contact by spring means arranged to insure a good contact at all'times and a quick circuit breaking operation'without arcing. .e

I The invention possesses other objects and features ,of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention 1 which isillustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the, showing made by the said drawing and de- .scription may be adopted within the scope of the 3 invention as set forthin the claims.

Referring to the drawing,

Figure 1 represents a longitudinal sectional view of the switch mechanism of this invention.

Figure 2 represents a top plan View of the switch mechanism with parts broken away and gg parts shown in top plan.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the plane of line33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Figure 1 but showing the switch as when 5 open.

The present embodiment of this invention, as shown in detail in the drawing, is seen to comprise a rectangular and relatively small base plate 1 preferably formed of insulating or nonconducting material and arranged to support a fixed housing 2 and a slidable housing 3 with the former telescoping the latter. In both housings switch mechanism 9 is arranged, whereas the slidable housing carries a plurality of fuses 4 of the cartridge type which are electrically connected with the switch mechanism. The arrangement is such that when the-slidable housing is moved in and out of the f xed housing the switch mechanism will be closed and opened. Suclimovement of the-slidable housing is effected by a crank shaft 11 journalled in and between wal1s'12 of the fixed housing and operated by a crank arm or lever 14 disposed on a sideof said fixedhousing. Connecting rods 15 are pivoted to the crank shaft as at 16 and to outer sides of the slidable housing asat 17, said rods being on opposite sides of said housing. These parts are arranged so that when the switch is open the'crank. arm or lever 14 will lie in'ahorizontal plane on the side of housing 3 and its associated parts will be disposed in such position that the slidable housing is prevented from accidental movement out of its withdrawn position.

The fixedhousing 2 comprises the side walls 12 extending outward from the base plate 1 at one end of, the latter', and a topwall 20 a block 21 arranged to be covered by a cover plate 23, the sides of said plate abutting the side walls 12. The block 21 is provided with parallel grooves or recesses in which contact members 26 are fixed. In the present instance three of such contacts are employed since the present unit is for three phase circuits but it is obvious that any number of contacts may be used. The contacts 26 are elongated and at their outer ends carry binding posts 27 accessible from above the block 21 upon removal of the cover plate 23. The inner ends of said contacts are counter sunk in hump like portions 28 of said block, and are exposed for engagement with movable contacts 29 of the switch mechanism. The free ends of contacts 26 and 29 are bent laterally or humped as at 30 and 31 respectively, in such manner that an interlocking engagement.thereof will take place to prevent accidental disengagement thereof. The sides 32 of thehumps 28 are inclined or curved forward and outward away from the ends of contacts 26 so that when the contacts are moved apart the contacts 29 will be quickly spaced clear of contacts 26 to prevent arcing. Furthermore these surfacesor sides 32 act as guides for the ends 31 of contacts 29 contacts 25.

tain ends to the inner ends of said contacts 29 when the latter are moved towards contacts 26. 1.25

The slidable housing 3 isgenerally rectangular and formed to define an outer compartment 34 and an inner compartment 35. In the outer compartment are fuse sockets or clips 36 for the three cartridge fuses 4, these parts being covered by a removable or suitably openable lid or cover plate 37 which, it is noted, lies under the outer wall of the fixed housing 2 and cannot be opened when the switch is closed but is openable when the switch is open.

On the base plate 1 are'binding' posts 38 which are connected by flexible or pig tail conductors 39 with certain of the fuse clips 36. The other fuse clips have pig tail connections 40 with the movable contacts 29. These contacts, it will be noted, are arranged in the lower or inner compartment 35 of the housing 3 which compartment is suitably partitioned and recessed to separately accommodate and protect the two sets of pig tail connections aforesaid, as well as said contacts 29. The contacts 29 are in the form of elongated bars and at their inner ends are pivotally held in recesses 42 whereas the outer ends 31 are disposed well in front of the slidable housing and are capable of lateral movement to ride over humps 28 and into and out of engagement with Bowed springs 43 are fixed at cerand at their other ends slidably bear upon' the contacts 29 in such manner as to urge said contacts outwardly towards contacts 25. Owing to these springs, the contacts 29 are caused to positively engage with and be securely held engaged against the contacts 26, as well as to be moved with a. quick snap action clear of contacts 25 when slidably withdrawn therefrom. These contacts 29, although projected from housing 3, are

however shielded by the housing when withdrawn from contacts 26 since they lie in part'in both .of housings 2 and 3 when so withdrawn.

It will now be seen that the switch mechanism 'is in part housed by housing 2 and in part by :housing 3, both of which housings fully shield the switch parts to prevent accidental contact -therewith by the operator of the switch. This 'makes for a compact small switch unit which will take up comparatively little room and may be easily installed. By'having the fuse unit combined with the housing 3 and taking up no more room than the housing'itself, except for a slightly increased depth or thickness of the housing,

disengaged upon movement of said movable housgreater space economy is provided and a saving in material and parts is also effected. Also the unit is made comparatively fiat on its exposed or outer side with no current carrying parts exposed.

With reference to the foregoing description and accompanying drawing, it will be apparent that the switch mechanism of this invention will provide the advantages and objects hereinbefore noted in a particularly efiicient manner.

, I claim:

1. In switch mechanism, a base plate, a fixed housing on said plate, a movable housing on said plate, switch contacts carried and shielded by said housings and arranged to be engaged and 90 ing, a guideway in said fixed housing arranged to engage and deflect the contact on said movable housing upon movement of said housing and fuse sockets carried by said movable housing and electrically connected with the switch 5 contacts carried by said movable housing.

2. In switch mechanism, a base plate, a fixed housing on said plate, a movable housing on said plate, switch contacts carried and shielded by said housings and arranged to be engaged and 10 disengaged upon movement of said movable housing, fuse sockets carried by said'movablehousing and electrically connected with the switch contacts carried by said movable housing, the contacts carried by said movable housing being movable relative thereto, and spring means auxiliary to said last named contacts arranged to urge the last named contacts into engagement with the other contacts.

3. In switch mechanism, a base plate, a flxed' contact thereon, another contact movable on the base plate into and out of engagement with the fixed contact, a movable support for said movable contact, a spring disposed between said support and movable contact and resiliently urging said movable contact'into engagementwith said fixed contact, and a fuse socket mounted on the inner compartment into the fixed housing and arranged to be engaged with and disengaged from the other contacts upon sliding movement of said slidable housing, and fuse sockets in the, outer compartment electrically connected with the contacts in said inner compartment.

5. In switch mechanism, a base plate, a fixed housing thereon, another housing slidable on said base plate'and within the other housing, switch contacts in the fixed housing, said slidable housing having inner and outer compartments, switch contacts mounted in and extending from the inner compartment into the fixed housing and arranged to be engaged with and disengaged from the other contacts upon sliding movement of said slidable housing, fuse sockets in the outer compartment electrically connected with the contacts in said inner compartment, binding posts on said plate, and flexible conductors connecting said fuse sockets with said binding posts.

6. In switch mechanism, a base plate, a fixed housing thereon, another housing slidable on said base plate and within the other housing, switch contacts in the fixed housing, said slidable housing having inner and outer compartments, switch contacts mounted in and extending from the inner compartment into the fixed housing and arranged to be engaged with and disengaged from the other contacts upon siiding movement .of said slidabl e housing, fuse sockets in the outer compartment electrically connected with the 

